Friday, January 31, 2014

The word “distraction” is an understatement I’d say with trying to gain any
ground on my Inward Journey to Christ this week.As I was writing this I heard a big thump.It was my cat opening the cupboard and
pulling out a can of tomato paste.

For the past hour she has grabbed
my lunch, sat on my notebook, walked across the desk and gotten into as much
trouble as she can just so I’d notice her.It wasn’t until I got up and spent some time with her that she finally
calmed down.Her behavior actually got
me to thinking about myself and how Christ tries to get me to notice He is
always there.

What kind of things does God do
to get our attention?I wonder how many
times I have been preoccupied and didn’t notice Him at all.If I didn’t take the time to recognize God is
always present, how in the world could I learn from Him?

After this reading I hope we
change our approach in how we act on what we have learned. We will learn to listen,
ask questions and “be excellent” as we seek the heart of God.

Welcome new friends this week
from: (the USA) West Virginia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Missouri, Florida, France,
Germany, UAE, South Africa, Canada and the UK.

Inward Journey circle is growing and I’m so glad to
be a part of it with you. Please continue to share this site along with praying
for your brothers and sisters of faith following Daily Favor from around the
globe.

Learning to do what a parent asks isn’t always
easy.As kids we sometimes got
distracted by what was going around us and didn’t really focus on the task we
had been assigned.

It was when I was in 6th or 7th
grade, I’m not sure, that my father chose to teach us girls (my older sister
and me) a lesson.My Dad’s timing just
happened to be when his sister and her family had come for a visit from New
York.

We had finished dinner and part of our daily chores
was washing the dishes.No biggie, we
got up from the table and started the duty.

Being a beautiful summer day, all the kids were
hoping to go outside for a while after the dishes were done.Back then we didn’t have a dishwasher … “we”
were the dishwasher.

The stack of tableware was finally dwindling and then
my father walked into the room.He reached
up, opened the cupboard doors and proceeded to take out every dish (including
the ones we just washed) placing them on the counter.Without raising his voice Dad made this
statement: “You will also wash all the
dishes in the cupboard and put them back, because I found a dish that was
dirty. Do them over.”

You can imagine the fight that we gave, “No, you have to be kidding!We were going outside … we have company!You can’t do this… but Dad!”He didn’t say anything else, but left the
kitchen and went back to visit with our guests.

What I didn’t tell you is that our cousin …
male teenage cousin, was also visiting.I was so
humiliated by what my Dad did and couldn’t find the right words to say.Instead of making a big deal out of it, my
cousin picked up a towel and began helping us.He said something to the effect, that with more hands we could get done
quicker, and we did.

I’m not sure if that punishment is why I can’t stand
to do things over, but it taught me to do things right the first time.Staying focused has its benefits.

Even though we may be adults, we are still God’s
kids, and He expects us to listen (observe) to do the job correctly.Growing closer to our Heavenly Father on our
journey requires a lot of listening in order to get it right the first
time.If we don’t get it right, don’t
worry, we’ll get a “do over.”

Hospital Corners

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day my mother met
Jesus.Although mom is now living in a
different realm, I still learn from her because of the things she set in motion
before she left earth.

When my mother was a young woman
she had the desire to be a nurse, and was even a candy striper (of sorts).I can remember her entering into my bedroom
when I was about 13 years old while I was making my bed (it was part of our
responsibilities).

How the conversation about
hospital bed sheets began I couldn’t tell you, but in a matter of minutes she
was demonstrating how to put hospital corners on my bed.

My bed looked so much nicer and
crisp, that even my Dad noticed.Of
course, he then did a Navy bed check.Oh, you don’t know what that is?Well, he took out a coin from his pocket and said that if the sheets were
done correctly they would be tight enough (no wrinkles at all) that a coin
would bounce up in the air when it was flipped on them.I barely passed the test.

Now my parents didn’t demand I make
my bed with hospital corners, but merely satisfied my curiosity. What my mother did like is that I had a
desire to make my bed with excellence, and it all started with a couple questions.

Within a few minutes I learned
how to make my bed with hospital corners and have done it ever since.I spent a few quality minutes listening to my
mom and learned something that is still operating in my life today.

When I asked her why she made her
bed this way, or why she did anything for that matter the way she did, her
response would be: “No matter what you do, do it all for the glory of God.” I never forgot that. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33 NKJV)

Having a willing heart and a
desire to learn is what I needed in order for Mom’s lesson to take root in my
soul.I was willing and obedient from
that time on without any prompting from my mother.This is what God is looking for from His
children.No, I don’t think He cares if
your bed has hospital corners or not, but I do think He wants us to be eager to
learn so that we carry out what has been taught.

You Didn’t Ask

God invites us to ask questions.

The next step in our Inward Journey is for us to ask questions so that we can understand
what we are to do in the plan. God’s desire is that we ask questions with the
intent to do what He has said.

Some of my students have come to
me concerning asking questions in class. They were embarrassed about the
subject so they never said anything.When they came to me in private I encouraged them by saying that no question is a
dumb one, and the only dumb thing was not asking it.

How could they follow my instructions if they
didn’t understand them?They couldn’t.Jesus said we don’t have because we don’t
ask, so ask. (James 4:2)

The Bible tells us that it’s OK
with God that we ask Him stuff.James 1:5-6 says that if we lack wisdom in something we need to ask God, so that we
get the answers we need and don’t become discouraged or waver in our faith.

If you have questions concerning
the next step you are to take, talk to the Lord about it in prayer.While you are waiting for His answer, study
the Word of God on that particular subject using a Bible concordance or Bible
dictionary.Talk to a pastor, Christian
counselor or Bible teacher about the area that needs addressing.Be patient and have an open ear and heart when it
comes to listening for instruction.

Action Plan: Doing
What is Right

"When are you going to pick that up?"

Sometimes we get frustrated not
knowing what God wants us to do.Start
with what you do know is right, and more will come as you go.It’s simpler than you think as long as we
keep out all the distractions.

Where to begin?Why not here?

I’m pretty sure somewhere along your journey
you had an adult tell you to “pick that up.”That command is pretty much set for our entire life.If you see something on the floor, don’t walk
past it, pick it up and put it where it belongs.

When you are in a store and see
something on the floor, put it back on the shelf or hanger even though you
aren’t the one who knocked it on the floor.Why do it?Because it’s
right.In helping someone else, it opens
up opportunities for others to help or bless you.

Do it even when no one is looking.

You might not
believe this, yet nevertheless, it’s true. Next month (February) is “return a
shopping cart month,” but I hope you don’t restrict this action to one part of
the year.

Last week I sat in the car while
my husband returned the grocery cart to its stall. I noticed that a man was watching him in the
car in front of us as he rolled 5 stray carts into the location.Someone saw what he did, but more
importantly, God saw it.

As Christians we are never to
forget that we are always being watched, and it’s not just by unbelievers.
People are looking to see if you are true
to your faith not only by your words, but by your actions.They want
to see excellence so it gives them a reason to believe.Something has to be different in our behavior
if we are to make a difference.

"Take that off, and that, and that ..."

Let me share another incident
that happened to my husband.While he
was standing in line to check out he perceived the woman in front of him didn’t
have enough money with her to pay the bill.

The cashier was so kind and asked
her what she wanted to do.

“I have the money in my account, but don’t
bank in this town.” She decided that
they would start removing items from the cart until it reached the amount she
had in cash.When my husband noticed
what she was doing he finally said out loud, “Stop.Don’t put anything else
back, I’ll make up the difference.”

As he was about to give her the
funds, the store manager spotted what my husband was doing, and reached into
his own pocket pulling out a large bill and gave it to the checker.

Someone else stepped up when they
saw my husband doing the right thing.He
didn’t do it to be recognized, but does this on a regular basis because it is
the Godly thing to do.If we are to be
blessed, we are to take action in looking for ways to bless others in order to
build an excellent character that God can use.

Serve with
Excellence

One time we have a lady minister
come speak at our church. When she was leaving she expressed that she was
impressed how everything was done with excellence, and that it wasn’t part of
her experience in many other churches where she preached.

Pastor Sandy noticed that we had
signs throughout the church building encouraging people, and that one said we
were to “Be Excellent (not strive to be) in our service for the Lord.”Having signs like that in the sanctuary,
halls and bathrooms were for the benefit of the congregation and stemmed from
lessons our pastor taught. Our church was on its own journey.

Our outreach church was learning
to be Disciples of Christ and needed continual reminding.That meant keeping what we learned before our
eyes in church as well as in our homes.All of us practiced the lessons as the pastor led us according to
scripture each week.No one realized
that those signs were having an effect on visitors until that minister said
something.

What we were doing in private was
made public.I’m just glad it wasn’t the
first week of the teaching. The report would have been quite different.

What, When and
Where

Wanting to live a life of
excellence before the Lord isn’t something we are to take lightly.These few things I’ve mentioned may sound
silly or too easy, but how many of us do them “religiously”, that is, all the
time without guilt, question or resentfulness?

A man recently talked to my
husband about serving in the church by volunteering in the parking lot
ministry.He wanted to do more, but
there was a discipleship class at the same time.

The problem was that being a new believer he
didn’t actually know how to greet people or direct visitors to the correct
places that fit their needs.Before he
could serve with excellence he had to learn and become stronger in Bible
knowledge, yes, even in serving in the parking lot.He realized that and wasn't upset by the pastor's suggestion.

Whatever God asks us to do He has
given us the strength to obey to the point that we excel at it physically and
spiritually.(Philippians 4:13)When we press forward in becoming
more Christ-like, God has something He can work with and bless.

Our Inward Journey
continues this week as we:

First listen to God and those who instruct in the Word “to observe”
correctly to the point of action.Thank
God for giving you wisdom to act on what you’ve learned.

“For wisdom is a
defense as money is a defense, but the excellence
of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12 NKJV)

Second, if you don’t understand ask questions. God doesn’t want us
floundering around not knowing what to do next. Ask him to shed light on a matter so that you
gain understanding on what to do, when to do it and where.

“I have heard of you,
that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. (to guide you on this life journey - emphasis mine)”
(Daniel 5:14 NKJV)

Third, do the right thing as you move toward an excellent Spirit.

“Then this Daniel
distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the
king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” (Daniel 6:3 NKJV)

This week’s challenge:

I’m not challenging you to put hospital corners on your
bed or take every dish out of the cupboard if one happens to be dirty. However,
I am asking that in everything you do, no matter how big or small, with a change of heart do it with
excellence and all to glorify God.

Something I really need to get
under control is my research mail.So my action toward excellence this week is to get
through some piles (yes, I said piles).My husband said he is going to work on cleaning out the trunk of his car. We all have to start somewhere.

As you progress in the things you
are trying to improve, let me know what you are doing on my Facebook page or in
the comments.Your suggestions may help
someone else, so let’s share things we will work on this week.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Being successful in life is the
desire of every person that has ever lived, yet it doesn’t come to
everyone.Why is that?Is it possible to be very rich and still be
in poverty?Absolutely.

I suppose it all boils down to
what each of us counts as being successful.Our opinion of accomplishment and being wealthy shouldn’t be measured or
compared to the world's views.If we are
to experience the real value and worth of what it means to be successful, we
need to seek the One who puts the value on these things – God.

Feelings of discouragement often
set in when we feel we have failed at a task or even at life.Is there a special formula we are to follow
in becoming successful and prosperous?I
believe there is, and God has shown us how to have a “no fail” life along our journey.Are you interested in knowing what that system is?

To date believers from 15 countries and 22 states in
the USA have joined us for the Inward Journey this year.Thank you, but I know we can do better! Please continue to share this site along with praying
for your brothers and sisters of faith following Daily Favor from around the
globe.

Spiritual
Groundwork Must Come First

It’s true that God wants us to be
successful in providing for our families, caring for the elderly or sick and
being an over-the-top kind of giver, but He also wants us to be
spiritually prosperous.

Being
spiritually fit shows God that He can pour out His blessings and favor on us
for greater things.

What are we to do in order to
prosper and have good success?For there
to be lasting outward success in anything, there must first be inward spiritual
growth.There are many people who we may
consider “rich” but without God’s backing, it is only earthly wealth and won’t
amount to anything.

There have been more times than I
can count, that I have become discouraged with my relationship and walk with the Lord.I'd think, “What
if I read my Bible or pray more … that will make me more “spiritual,” but
something would come up and change my schedule so I didn’t follow through with
my good intentions.

When I failed at that I would try
volunteering and giving to more places outside my church, thinking surely
that’s where I messed up.Then again,
those things wouldn’t be consistent and I’d be right back where I was in the
beginning – feeling discouraged that I failed God.

The main reason I was feeling
that way was because I didn’t understand my part in what God wanted me to do. A desire to please God was there, but I kept
thinking I needed something else, because I didn’t see the results I thought I
would in serving the Lord my way.

I didn’t understand that my
obedience was such a main issue in my relationship with God, and that it was
more important than sacrifice.

By Authority

Any time God gives an assignment,
He gives us everything we need to carry it out.We have His authority, blessings, favor and power. Our part is to recognize the tools we have been given, and use them
effectively in finishing the job. (Psalm 68:35

Moses was a great leader, but his
earthly journey had come to an end.Joshua was given the mantle and responsibility of Moses to finish the
job of getting the Israelites into Canaan.It was a task that Joshua didn’t think he could fulfill. (Reference)

I remember my first full time
teaching position. Filling the shoes of the teacher that I replaced seemed
impossible and there were many months my days ended in tears.Halfway through the year things began to
change as I stepped up to the challenge.One thing that I had to keep in mind was that I had the promise of the
school administration behind me 100%.

Knowing that I had authority and
backing to do what I was hired for helped me gain ground with my classes and
colleagues.Success came because I
didn’t forget what I had been given by the school board (their word), and I have
carried this attitude with me everywhere I have taught, preached or lectured.

Joshua needed to be reminded by
God of the tools he was given spiritually in order to have material
success.What things could he count on
from God in reaching his goal?

Why Not Me?

A command had been set with specific orders from the
Lord.Joshua was told to “Go.”OK, now he knew what he was supposed to do. You can imagine there were some questions
Joshua had concerning the “when, where, how and why”, so God spelled it out for him
right from the start.

The first thing God told Joshua
was something we would all like to hear. It was a word of comfort and encouragement before Joshua started the job.

“Like I was with Moses,
I will be with you and not forsake you your entire life.” (Joshua 1:5)

﻿

Imagine all the miracles Joshua witnessed. Do you think Moses had a bit of fun at times?

That is a huge promise!If I were Joshua I’d be making a mental note
of the miracles that happened under Moses’ command, like the parting of the Red
Sea, Manna from Heaven ... and so forth. Having that kind of power could go to
one’s head don’t you think?

God gave the law to Moses and now
the mantle fell on Joshua.All the
places he stepped would be his just like God did with Moses.How could he possibly get discouraged knowing
that all the things God did for Moses He was now passing on to him?

Maybe you think that God isn’t
the same as He was in the past, and that He doesn’t bestow the same blessings
on the church today.That’s not
true.If He did it for them, why not me I asked?

Yes, why not? God can do
it for you, me or anyone who will follow His plan.Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and
tomorrow.

So the first thing in a "no fail success plan," is that it has to have a promise to
succeed.Only God can make such a
promise.

The Promised Land Today

Onward Christian
Soldier:God Commanded Joshua

When a soldier is
given a command by a higher officer, he is expected to carry out the task
regardless of the way he feels.If that
soldier has to go to battle, even the encouragement of the boss doesn’t take
away the fear of the battle.That
soldier has to grasp hold of something emotionally to help him follow through with
the assignment.

I'm with you ... now get going!

The second "no fail" ingredient of the plan we read in the scriptures, is that
God expected Joshua to be strong and
courageous no matter what he came against in delivering the people to their
promised land.

In trying to get the
point across to Joshua He said it three times! (Joshua 1:6,7,9)

If Joshua was going to win, he
had to develop a winning character and attitude so he wouldn’t fall back into
discouragement or quit.That meant
taking a new approach (A.N.A.) in
order to change the way he thought and how he saw himself.

Matthew 28:20

Discourage is the lack of
courage.It’s easy for us to fall into
discouragement, especially with the economy right now, but we cannot listen to
that voice of despair.God knew Joshua
had to be strengthened from the inside if he were to win an outward
battle.Remember my promises God said.

“Joshua, (said the
Lord) don’t be afraid or dismayed.”

That was a direct order straight from headquarters.
To be dismayed is to lose
focus on what we were doing. We lose
direction and allow discouragement to creep in causing feelings of hopelessness. Like Joshua, we have been given orders to stay on course. (Joshua 1:9)

There have been times when I was
given a task that I really wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do. Have you felt
that way?Since the job description
wasn’t clear, I would do other things to fill my time trying to be a good employee.To an employer, that could look like a person
didn’t know their position or didn’t follow instructions well.When I clearly understood what I was
responsible for I had no trouble doing the job.

God wanted to make sure there was
no confusion for Joshua in what He wanted him to do in conquering the
city.So He spelled it out for him.

This is what you are to do: go take the land for a possession that is within these borders.Every place you step will now belong to
you.

There was no doubt of his
assignment, and we don’t have to be in doubt either.If we study God’s Word our task will become
clearer.We will remain strong and
courageous to the end.

The Action Plan

Why was
staying strong and courageous so important if God promised He wouldn’t leave
Joshua?Didn’t he already have
everything he needed?After all, God Himself
was going to be with him throughout the entire journey.We learn from scripture that God was only
going to do His part. If success was to come, Joshua had to do his own part of
the plan.

God has given each one of us a
plan of action so we can do what is asked of us.It is not just reading the Bible or praying
either, but both are involved in the overall strategy for success.

If the Bible is to
work for us we have to read it with the
intent to obey what we read."Observe to Do."Reading it and not doing what it
says will not lead you into a prosperous spiritual life.

There was a man who recently
talked to my husband about not understanding the Bible translation.With much discussion he was instructed to get
another version to go along with the KJV, so that when he read a passage he
could understand in order to do what the scripture said.There is no point in reading the Bible if we
are only reading it to gain historical knowledge.God’s Word is a manual for life that is meant
to be implemented.It’s a how-to book
for life.

I bought a small cabinet this week that came with instructions. If I want that item assembled I have to get my husband to do it. OK, I'm kidding. If "we" want that cabinet to work for us, we have to follow exactly what the manual says or it won't be completed or useful.God gives us written
directions/instructions in His Word so that when we learn it, we will do it (observe
is to carry out the assignment) without being told.

For those who do not plan on
practicing what they learned from the Word of God, nothing will be revealed to
them.The more we do what God has
written the more blessed we will be.There is no need for revelation to those who don’t follow the plan of
action.

Why study God’s Word? So we can
do it.When we follow the plan we don’t
lose focus or get discouraged, and keep moving toward the goal.Joshua had to stay focused to win and so do we.

For years I followed a program
called D.E.A.R.The kids never knew when
it would happen, but at any time on any given day I’d call out, “It’s D.E.A.R. time.”That meant in the middle of an assignment,
test or anything, our position was changed.Everyone, including myself had to drop
everything and read (DEAR).We
were permitted to read anything we wanted, and no one could do anything else (that included
me). What was the plan? Our goal was to encourage kids to read at home without being told so their literacy skills would increase. The plan worked because we all followed it.

Most times I would pull out my
Bible and meditate on certain passages.It wouldn’t be long before something happened and I was glad I had those
scriptures to draw on in decision making. Success came because the plan was activated when I did my part.

God gave specific requirements
for reading His Word. (The law back then was the books of Genesis-Deuteronomy
called the Pentateuch. That was the entire Bible.)Joshua was to meditate on it at least 2 times
a day (day and night).

He was told to memorize the
passages so that they became the controlling factor in how he went about his
day. For example, when you know God says “Do
not steal,” you don’t steal.It’s
that way with anything God says.You act
on what you know.If you’re not reading
God’s Word, you can’t know what is right or wrong according to His plan and
you’re bound to mess up purely out of ignorance.Memorize God’s Word so you know what to do.

Just Do It

Joshua was to believe and do the
law without any doubts, questions or changes to it. He had to observe all of it and had no choice as to which he did and didn’t do.

In testing my students. I sometimes
gave multiple choice selections, but God doesn’t do that. Joshua didn’t have a choice of following
another plan.The Israelites new commander was told that he
would have success in everything if he followed God’s plan only (no wavering from the guidebook).

In today’s world, some Christians want
to compromise on what God has clearly stated in His Word concerning right or wrong.We want to be
politically or culturally correct and forgo being spiritually one with God.

A “No Fail” plan has to be followed according to the rules of its Creator.If we want the benefits of being successful, we have to go by the plan
that leads us to that destination.

When God says here is my plan of
action, He isn’t asking for our input nor is He giving us a plan B.This is what the plan is, the only plan.Scripture says, “Thou shall not,” but we say,
“Just this once, maybe next time … that doesn’t apply to me.”God says, “Do
not judge others or you’ll be judged.”We judge others and think we can escape judgment.

How clear did God make those
instructions?Yet we change the rules,
and take our own action plan expecting God to bless us with His favor.

Winning is God’s plan for our
lives. He has given a plan of action that will succeed if we remember these three things:

1. Only one plan comes with a
promise to succeed. God's plan.

2. We must be strong and courageous on the journey.

3. Memorize the “plan
book” (Bible) to obey and do the plan.

We’re in this
Together

A written plan of action just like God's Word.

Each week I was expected to present a lesson plan
to my advisors so they knew what my course of action was going to be for the
students.The students, administration
and I had our parts, and together goals were achieved.

God’s lesson plan book always gives the direction
concerning any course of action. He expects us to go by it so everyone on His side
wins. I want to succeed on my journey, don't you?

It is satan’s plan to de-activate God’s success
plan for our lives; and he is behind discouragement and failure, not God.Joshua never failed because he followed a
plan to success.

Plan to succeed - READ God's Word 2 x's a day.

I have a saying on my kitchen wall:

“Failing
to plan is planning to fail.”

God planned for us not to fail, so let’s get
with the plan starting now.

Memorize scripture to observe (go into
action).Press on and forward.Don’t be
afraid. Be strong and courageous…. We’re not alone!